Self-bracing leg assembly



April 12, 1960 c; c, LEACH 2,932,479

SELF-BRACING LEG ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 22, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f at I6 l4 IS /A FIG. I

[ i/ FIG. 2

FIG 5 INVEYTORZ CHARLES C. LEACH ATT' Y.

April 12, 1960 c, Q LEACH 2,932,479

SELF-BRACING LEG ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 22, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORZ CHARLES C. LEACH ATT Y- United States Patent M SELF-BRACING LEG ASSEMBLY Charles C. Leach, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Glaser Products Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application September 22, 1958, Serial No. 762,362

13 Claims. (Cl. 248-129) This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in supporting structures and, more particularly, to a self-bracing leg assembly.

Most portable charcoal broilers consist of a large metallic charcoal pan over which a suitable grate is placed, and the charcoal pan is ordinarily supported by a plurality of hollow tubular legs which are secured to and depend downwardly therefrom. Usually, the downwardly. presented surface of the charcoal pan is provided with a plurality of hollow tubular sockets into which the legs are secured. Since the legs are relatively long as compared to the length of the sockets various stresses are applied to the legs and sockets as the broiler is shifted around during use with the result that the joint between the legs and sockets quickly becomes loosened, necessitating repair and in some cases rendering the broiler useless.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a leg assembly which is simple and economical to construct and, at the same time, will provide a rigid, self-bracing supporting structure.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a leg assembly of the type stated which is unlikely to become loosened or unsteady even after prolonged use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a leg construction of the type stated which eliminates the necessity of tubular sockets or similar attaching means on the under side of the supported member.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets) Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portable charcoal broiler provided with a leg assembly constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the portable charcoal broiler;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a leg forming a part of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the base frame;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the base frame;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the base frame;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the base frame; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a practical embodiment of the present invention, A'designates a charcoal broiler comprising a fabricated steel pan 1 of generally circularshape having a cylindrical side wall 2 and a bottom wall 3 which is dished slightly downwardly and punched to provide suitable apertures 4, 5, 6, for the reception of bolts 7, 8, 9, by which the pan 1 is 2,932,479 Patented Apr. 12, 1960 secured to a supporting base frame 10, being held in place by means of nuts 11, 12, 13, respectively.

The base frame 10 comprises three identical frame members 14, 15, 16, preferably formed of hollow metallic tubing and integrally including downwardly diverging legs 17, 18, 19, respectively, the lower end of the leg 17 being provided with a ground-engaging glide 20. At their lower ends the legs 18, 19, are flattened out and provided with apertures 21, 22, for receiving an axle 23, the latter having rubber-tired wheels 24, 25, mounted on the outer ends thereof. Integral with the upper ends ofthe legs 17, 18, 19, are arcuate bends 26, 27, 28, which terminate in substantially straight horizontal bight portions 29, 30, 31, respectively, the latter, in turn, terminating in downwardly inclined offset arms 32, 33, 34. The arms 32, 33, 34, are respectively formed at their outer ends with flat portions 35, 36, 37, provided with apertures 38, 39, 40, which are, in turn, respectively aligned with apertures 41, 42, 43, formed in each of the legs 17, 18, 19, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. Extending through each set of aligned apertures 38- 41, 3942, and 4043 are bolts 44, 45, 46, having wing nuts 47, 48, 49, threaded thereon so that when drawn up tightly, the latter will bear against the fiat portions 35, 36, 37, and thereby secure the frame members 14, 15, 16, together in rigid, mutually-braced relationship. As seen by reference to Fig. 3, when the frame members 14, 15, 16, are in assembled relationship, the legs 17, 18, 19, and the arms 32, 33, 34, will be angularly offset from the horizontal bight portions 29, 30, 31, substantially equally and in opposite direction.

In connection with the present invention, it should be noted that the self-bracing base frame It) can be used to support members other than a charcoal-broiler pan. For example, a table top or similar tabular member can be bolted, clamped, or otherwise rigidly secured to bight portions 29, 30, 31. Likewise, a chair seat may be directly secured to the leg assembly. In either case, the axle 23 and wheels 24, 25, may, if desired, be omitted. The base frame construction of the present invention is easy to fabricate since all three frame members 14, 15, 16, are substantially identical and are readily secured together by only three bolts. Thus, the structure is economical for shipment purposes and can be easily assembled for use. Moreover, the base frame of the present invention forms a self-bracing rigid support for any type of tabular member, and will not readily become loosened during use.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the self-bracing leg assembly may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters 'Patent is- 1. A self-bracing leg assembly comprising three hollow tubular elements each being provided with a substantially horizontal bight portion, a downwardly projecting leg connected to one end of each bight portion, and a downwardly inclined arm connected to the other end of each bight portion, the arms being rigidly secure-d to the adjacent legs in successive order at a substantial distance below said bight portion.

2. A self-bracing leg assembly comprising three elements each being provided with a substantially horizontal bight portion, the'arrns being secured at their outer ends to the adjacent legs in successive order at a substantial a ead???) distance below said bight portion, said bight portions all being coplanar.

3. A self-bracing leg assembly comprising three continuous hollow tubular elements each being provided with a substantially horizontal bight portion, a downwardly a substantially horizontal bight portion, a downwardly projecting inclined leg connected to one end of each bight portion by a first arcuate bend of substantial radius, and a downwardly inclined arm connected to the other end of. each bight portion by a second arcuate bend of substantial radius, the arm and leg connected to each bight portion being offset therefrom equally and in opposite directions, the arms furthermore being secured at their outer ends to the adjacent legs in successive order.

' 5. A self-bracing leg assembly comprising three continuous hollow tubular elements each being provided with a substantially horizontal bight portion, a down wardly projecting inclined leg connected to one end of each bight portion by a first arcuate bend of substantial radius and. a downwardly inclined arm connected to the other end of each bight portion by a second arcuate bend of the same radius as said first arcuate bend, the arm and leg connected to each bight portion being oifsct therefrom equally and in opposite directions, the arms furthermore being secured at their outer ends to the adjacent legs in successive order at a substantial distance below said bight portion.

6. 'A self-bracing leg assembly comprising three continuous hollow tubular elements each being provided with. a substantially horizontal bight portion, a first arcuate section formed on one end of each bightportion, a downwardly projecting leg connected to said first arcuate section, and a downwardly inclined arm connected to the other end. of each bight portion by a second arcuate section of substantially the same radial size as said arcuate section, the arm and leg associated with each bight portion being ofiset therefrom equally and in opposite directions, the arms furthermore being secured at their outer ends to the adjacent legs in successive order substantially near the lowenterrninus of said first arcuate section whereby to form a structure having three legs each of which are connected to two bights by a pair of diverging arcuate sections.

7. A device of the character described comprising three continuous hollow tubular elements each being provided with a substantially horizontal bight portion, a downwardly projecting leg connected to one end'of each bight portion by a first arcuate bend of substantial radius, a downwardly inclined arm connected to the other end of each bight portion by a second arcuate bend of substantial radius, said first and second arcuate bends being angularly oifset from'said bight portion in oppcsingdirections, thealms being rigidly secured to the adjacent legs in successive order at a point substantially near the terminus of said first arcuate bend whereby to define 'a leg assembly having three. legs each connected to a pair of bights by a pair of diverging arcuate sections, and a charcoal pan rigidly mounted on said bight portions intermediate said arcuate bends.

8. A device of the character described comprising three hollow tubular elements each being provided with a substantially horizontal bight portion, a downwardly projecting leg connected to one end of each bight portion by a first arcuate bend of substantial radius, an axle. joining the lower ends oftw'o ofjsaid legs,'wheels mout1ted I i on said axle, and a downwardly inclined arm connected to the other end of each bight portion by a second arcuate bend of substantial radius, the arm and leg connected to each bight portion being oifset therefrom in opposite directions, and the arms being secured to the adjacent legs in successive order at a point substantially near the terminus of said first arcuate ben'df,

9. A device of the character described comprising three hollow tubular elements each being provided with a substantially horizontal bight portion, a downwardly projecting leg connected to one-end of each bight portion by a first arcuate bend of substantial radius, an axle joining the lower ends v of two of saidv shanks, wheels mounted on said axle, a downwardly inclined arm connected to the other end of eachbight portion by a second arcuate bend of substantial radius, the arm' and leg connected to each bight portion being offset therefrom equally and in opposite directions, the arms being secured to the adjacent legs in successive order at a point substantially near the terminus of said'first arcuate bend whereby to define a structure having three legs each of which diverge into a .pairfof spaced substantially coplanar horizontal bight portions by a pair of arcuate bends, and a charcoal pan rigidly secured to the bight portions.

10. A device of the character described comprising three hollow tubular elements each being provided with a substantially horizontal bight portion, a first and second arcuate bend of substantial radius respectively connected to opposite ends of saidbight. portion, said first and second bends being angularly offset in opposite directions from .said bight portion, a leg connected to said fi'rs tiarc'uate bend, and an arm connected to said second arcuate bend, said 'ar'm being substantially flattened along the portion which is substantially furthest from said bight, each of said arms beingsecured to the next adjacent leg through saidfla'ttened'portion at a'point which is substantially at the terminus of said first arcuate bend.

11. A device of the character described comprising the portion, which isv substantially furthest from. said to opposite ends of said bigh'tportio'n, saidfirst and secbight, each of said arms bein-grsecured to .thenextadjacent leg through said flattened portion at a point whichis substantially at the terminus of said first'arcuate bend, said arm being, connected, to said next adjacent leg in wardly thereof;

l2. A::device of the character described comprising three hollow tubular elementseach bein'g provi'ded with a substantially horizontal bight portion, a first and second arcuate-bend of substantial radius respectively connected ond bends being angularly iofiseein opposite directions from said bight portion, a le'gjconnected to' said first arcuate bend, and an arm connected to saidfsecond arcuv ate bend, said arm being, substantially fiattenedinto the shapeof an oval havingfelonga ted. spaced-walls. along the portion which is substantially furthest. from said bight, each ofsaidarn1s-being-sccured.to. the next. adjacent leg through said flattened ;port ion ;,at -ga, point. which .is .substantially at the terminus of said first arcuate bend, said being connected; to said 'next. adjacent; leg inward! y thereof.

- 13. A device an the character described lcompsising.

three hollow tubular 'elements eachabeingrprovided with a substantially '-horizontal "bight portion, a "first-and sec v ond" arcuate bend of substantial radius respectively-com nected to PP Siteends of said 'bi'ght' portiong saidi first and second bends being angularly offset in opposite directions from said bight poition, a leg connected to said first arcuate bend, and an arm connected to said second arcuate bend, said arm being substantially flattened into the shape of an oval having elongated spaced parallel Walls along the portion which is substantially furthest from said bight, each of said arms being secured to the next adjacent leg through said flattened portion at a point which is substantially at the terminus of said first arcuate bend, said arm being connected to said next adjacent leg inwardly thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

